Manila: Households that remain without power due to the recent weather systems are expected to regain their services within the week, an official of the National Electrification Administration (NEA) said on Thursday.

According to Philippines News Agency, in an interview with Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon, NEA Disaster Risk Reduction Management Department (DRRMD) Manager, Engineer Eric Campo, stated that approximately 7,000 households serviced by Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO) and the Oriental Mindoro Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ORMECO) are still without power. Campo assured that restoration efforts are ongoing, with a target to restore the remaining consumer connections within this week.

Campo reported that around 180,000 households experienced power outages during the onslaught of Tropical Depressions Luis and Maymay, as well as the southwest monsoon, known locally as habagat. Other affected consumers are being served by the Pampanga II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (PELCO II), the Zambales II Electric Cooperative (ZAMELCO II), the Batangas 1 Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BATALEC I), and BATELEC II.

He highlighted that energy sector stakeholders have initiated a program called Task Force Kapatid, where personnel from unaffected electric cooperatives are deployed to assist in affected areas to expedite service restoration. NEA also provides calamity assistance to affected electric cooperatives to help alleviate any financial burdens. The resiliency of electric cooperative systems and facilities is maintained through vulnerability and risk assessments conducted by NEA.